ESCONDIDO  Escondido’s popular hot rod event, Cruisin’ Grand, is fighting funding cuts with raffles and the equivalent of a bake sale.

For the first time in Cruisin’ Grand’s decade-long history, the Downtown Business Association of Escondido is setting up a food court that will sell everything from chocolate-coated pretzels and cupcakes to cotton candy and ice cream.

The food vendors will be on Maple Street between Grand and Second avenues and will pay rent to the business association.

“These are not perfect solutions, but they will help,” said Thora Guthrie, CEO of the association, which organizes Cruisin’ Grand.

The association also plans to hold weekly raffles. Half of the receipts will be given to the winner of the weekly drawing, and half will go to the business association, which is applying for nonprofit status.

Cruisin’ Grand begins its six-month run Friday and will continue every Friday night until Sept. 24. Visitors can expect to see impeccably kept vintage cars cruising downtown’s Grand Avenue.

In the past, the city of Escondido subsidized the $100,000 event with $34,000, the business association’s programs director Sue Dusharme said.

Last year, the city reduced funding to Cruisin’ Grand to $25,000, Dusharme said. The association responded by cutting expenses.

This year, the association expects the city’s financial support to be limited, but the association’s board decided to stick with a full six-month event rather than reduce it.

A typical Friday night draws 5,000 people, and special attractions, such as Nitro Night, can bring in up to 20,000 visitors.

“A lot of businesses rely on income generated by the crowds on Friday night,” Guthrie said.